Sphinx Moth

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

Sphinx moths are also known as hummingbird moths for their ability to hover in front of flowers and sip the sweet nectar. The humming noise made by the rapid beating of wings along with an extremely long proboscis tongue increases the similarity with hummingbirds. Caterpillars of this group are known as hornworms because of sinister looking barb on the rear. A European species called the Death’s Head Sphinx moth played a role in the book Silence of the Lambs.